Abstract:

Whereas most universities in Germany are still struggling with the transition from emergency remote teaching (ERT) to high quality digital teaching, a new challenge appears: the artificial intelligence Chat GPT is able to write whole essays and structured academic papers in just a few minutes. Traditionally, the applied social sciences rely on highly discursive teaching methods that train their students’ communicative and reflective competencies (Weinert 2001). Obviously, the exams respond to this – to date. To a large extent, students within the applied social science had to prove critical thinking, by writing thematic essays, showing their ability to create logical theory-practice reflections – to date. But what will the future of teaching an examining look like? In fact, Chat GPT a chatbot provided by Open AI, is described as a milestone of artificial intelligence. The software is able to write Wikipedia-entries as well as essays or even curricula. The better you formulate the order, the better the software will do an reach an appropriate level of academic writing. Opponents and critics of this new artificial intelligence claim the end of the traditional university system, at least in the fields of humanities and social sciences. The BediRa-Project (Building Reflexive Professionalism and Relationships in Remote Teaching), located at the University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Education and Nursing Dresden, introduces students as well as teachers to create new forms of digital relationships in remote teaching by creating a con-constructivist atmosphere (Weimann-Sandig 2022). In our paper we present a lecture called Digital Literacy and Academic Writing as well as our so-called BediRa-Lab where we are critically analyzing the effects of using artificial intelligence in academic teaching and writing. We will highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using Chat GTP in academic teaching scenarios. Additionally, we will present new ways of critical thinking discussing what artificial intelligence means to recent and future academic discourses.

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Chat GPT, critical thinking in higher education.